rm. I too was blind as he to light and life, till you loosed
the hood from my eyes and set me soaring high over the leafy tree-
tops;--But, trust me--bold as my flight may be, yet shall I ever
turn back to my cage.

NILS LYKKE (rises). Then I bid defiance to the past! See now;--
take this ring, and be _mine_ before God and men--_mine_, ay,though
it should trouble the dreams of the dead.

ELINA. You make me afraid. What is it that----?

NILS LYKKE. It is nought. Come, let me place the ring on your
finger.--Even so--now are you my betrothed!

ELINA. _I_ Nils Lykke's bride! It seems but a dream, all that
has befallen this night. Oh, but so fair a dream! My breast is
so light. No longer is there bitterness and hatred in my soul.
I will atone to all whom I have wronged. I have been unloving to
my mother. To-morrow will I go to her; she must forgive me my
offence.

NILS LYKKE. And give her consent to our bond.

ELINA. That will she. Oh, I am sure she will. My mother is
kind; all the world is kind;--I can feel hatred no more for any
living soul--save _one_.

NILS LYKKE. Save _one ?_

ELINA. Ah, it is a mournful history. I had a sister----

NILS LYKKE. Lucia?

ELINA. Have you known Lucia?

NILS LYKKE. No, no; I have but heard her name.

ELINA. She too gave her heart to a knight. He betrayed her;--
and now she is in Heaven.

NILS LYKKE. And you----?

ELINA. I hate him.

NILS LYKKE. Hate him not! If there be mercy in your heart,
forgive him his sin. Trust me, he bears his punishment in his
own breast.

ELINA. Him I will never forgive! I _cannot_, even if I would;
for I have sworn so dear an oath----
(Listening.)
Hush! Can you hear----?

NILS LYKKE. What? Where?

ELINA. Without; far off. The noise of many horsemen on the
high-road.

NILS LYKKE. Ah, it is they! And I had forgotten----! They
are coming hither. Then is the danger great;--I must begone!

ELINA. But whither? Oh, Nils Lykke, what are you hiding----?

NILS LYKKE. To-morrow, Elina----; for as God lives, I will
return then.--Quickly now--where is the secret passage you told
me of?

ELINA. Through the grave-vault. See,--here is the trap-door.

NILS LYKKE. The grave-vault! (To himself.) No matter, he
_must_ be saved!

ELINA (by the window). The horsemen have reached the gate----

(Hands him the lantern.)

NILS LYKKE. Well, now I